Extra Chores

Tuesday is "Chore Day" at my house. A good time is had by all. This particular Tuesday was especially enjoyable as my two younger children not only spent the entire morning complaining about having to do chores (as if we don't do it every week), but also fighting and bickering with each other. I was listening to them from the kitchen (where I was doing the laundry-without complaint). They were being downright hateful to each other, it was getting ugly, over...seriously...who was going to take the first shower. I couldn't help but laugh quietly to myself because it was just so silly and because I was in possession of some information which neither of them were aware of. Namely, that I had already decided, based on the scheduling needs of everyone in the house, exactly what order children would be taking their showers in.

So, because I am a kind, loving mother, I decided to bring them into the living room and inform them... that would solve everything. I gently called to them so that I could impart my generous wisdom upon them. I had the entire speech planned out and I felt confident that once my little angels were apprised of the situation, peace and joy would be restored to the household. In my mind it looked something like this...

My dear, beloved children, cease your strife and arguing! It is to no avail. For I, your loving and wise mother, will reveal my will for you. I hold the key to your future plans and I have predetermined the shower schedule for the day. I have a plan, it's a good plan, a plan to prosper you, not to harm you. A plan to bring order and peace to the entire household. Trust in me. Do the work of your hands with diligence and pride, and be loving toward each other as I have loved you...

Here's what it really looked liked...
HE said this!!! SHE called me that!!! HE did this!!! SHE threw that!!! He ALWAYS gets his way!!! She NEVER gets in trouble!!! IT'S NOT FAIR!!! I HATE him/her!!!...and on...and on...and on...

I quietly backed out of the room - They didn't even notice that I had left.

I went back to folding my laundry and listening. There was a lot more going on than an urgent desire for cleanliness. There were past hurts and slights, feelings of injustice and inequality, laundry lists of old injuries and insults, and a desperate, clutching need to be vindicated. To be right. Because somehow, the one who is right is the one who matters.

And I thanked God.

Because that very morning, I had prayed for insight and wisdom into my own "difficult" relationships. And I felt compassion for my children, and for myself, and for the people in my life that I struggle to show love to, even though I feel love for them.

Sometimes, I get so caught up in past hurts and slights, feelings of injustice and inequality, laundry lists of old injuries and insults and the desperate, clutching need to be vindicated. To be right. Because somehow, if I am right, than I will matter.

And sometimes, as a newly committed Follower of Christ, words like...submission, and serve, and meekness become a hammer that someone who is NOT Christ uses to pound guilt into my soul. And I get confused and think that submission is about a person.

I want to remember that my God is a Mighty, Sovereign God. My God holds not only my life and future, but the future of the world, in His hands. Every person matters to God. My mind cannot conceive the plan's of God. I want to be willing to humble myself before the God of the Universe and freely concede that sometimes I don't get to win, and sometimes I don't get to know why.

And He made known to us the mystery of His Will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fullfillment-to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one Head, even Christ. In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.
Ephesians 1:9-11

In case you're wondering, the innocent little darlings eventually got a little too willful. And received the blessing of discipline in the form of extra chores. I don't know if they learned a lesson from that, but I got the back porch and patio swept and cleaned, and all the sticks and twigs removed from the yard (2 acres)...all things work together for good!